Moving Beyond 'More Crop per Drop'


Book Description

Concern over increasing water scarcity has led to the introduction of the concept of agricultural water productivity and an emphasis on interventions to achieve 'more crop per drop'. Yet, a strong debate continues on how the concept is to be defined and used. Drawing largely from the irrigation literature, the origins of the concept and its methodological developments are reviewed, and its use in applied work over two decades is discussed. Based on this analysis of conceptual and applied research, key insights into the concept's contributions and limitations are presented, as well as opportunities for further refinements.




More Crop Per Drop


Book Description

This volume is an analytical summary and a critical synthesis of research at the International Water Management Institute over the past decade under its evolving research paradigm known popularly as 'more crop per drop'. The research synthesized here covers the full range of issues falling in the larger canvas of water-food-health-environment interface. Besides its immediate role in sharing knowledge with the research, donor, and policy communities, this volume also has a larger purpose of promoting a new way of looking at the water issues within the broader development context of food, livelihood, health and environmental challenges. More crop per drop: Revisiting a research paradigm contrasts the acquired wisdom and fresh thinking on some of the most challenging water issues of our times. It describes new tools, approaches, and methodologies and also illustrates them with practical application both from a global perspective and within the local and regional contexts of Asia and Africa. Since this volume brings together all major research works of IWMI, including an almost exhaustive list of citations, in one single set of pages, it is very valuable not only as a reference material for researchers and students but also as a policy tool for decision-makers and development agencies.




9789290908487


Book Description




Moving from water problems to water solutions: research needs assessment for the eastern Gangetic Plains


Book Description

The workshop organizers had previously identified three pillars that directly influence land and water resources, its policies and institutions at a regional scale. These were: (1) Availability of the resources; (2) Access to the resources; and (3) Achievements that can be obtained through the use of the resources (yields, productivity and income enhancement from these land and water resources). The two-day workshop focused on identifying appropriate research questions that would help improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in these three areas to cope with spatial and temporal variability, and scarcity, of available land and water resources, improve farmers’ access to these resources and ensure their distribution in an equitable manner, and achieve optimal productivity.




Earth Observation Applications and Global Policy Frameworks


Book Description

Applying Earth science knowledge to sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and climate action Data and insights from Earth observations are critical for assessing the health of our planet, monitoring change, and addressing societal challenges from the local to the global scale. Earth Observation Applications and Global Policy Frameworks presents case studies of Earth science information integrated with statistics and socioeconomic data for managing development targets, improving disaster resilience, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. It also showcases open collaboration among researchers, United Nations and government officials, entrepreneurs, and the public. Volume highlights include: Case studies of projects working with local and national governments, and through public-private partnerships, to make the most of the large volume of complex and diverse Earth science information sources Applications from diverse disciplines including wetland preservation, food security, water quality, marine conservation, disasters, urbanization, drought and land degradation, and greenhouse gas monitoring Examples of internationally coordinated initiatives that are driving progress on three landmark United Nations agreements Resources for decision-makers and practitioners in local and national governments The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.




Cannabis and Khat in Drug Discovery


Book Description

Cannabis and Khat in Drug Discovery: The Discovery Pipeline and the Endocannabinoid System provides comprehensive coverage of two important psychoactive plants: Khat and Cannabis. Initial research has found that compounds and derivatives from Cannabis and Khat are found to have promising properties that can be used for the discovery, design and development of potential drug leads against various diseases. This book extensively discusses the drug discovery and allied sciences of these compounds in the drug discovery pipeline, including basic research and computer aided modeling in ligand-drug interactions and their interactions with the endocannabinoid system. Categorized into sections including, chemical analyses and bioassays, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology and pharmacology, clinical applications, and policy and regulations, this book covers the methods and protocols involved and will be of interest to students, researchers, policymakers and all those involved in drug discovery research. Covers the medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and biological chemistry of cannabis, khat, their constituent compounds and metabolites Presents both the adverse and the beneficial entities to health and drug discovery Includes detailed methods and protocol information to allow easy replication and application




Making the Most of the Water We Have


Book Description

In the last century water policies relied on the construction of massive infrastructure in the form of dams, pipelines, and complex centralized treatment plants to meet human demands. These facilities brought tremendous benefits, but they also had serious and often unanticipated social, economic and environmental costs. Demand for water is one of the major challenges of the current century, but past approaches are no longer sufficient.




2030 Agenda and India: Moving from Quantity to Quality


Book Description

This book presents a selection of multifaceted development issues involving social, economic and environmental aspects, in order to inspire and guide implementation of the United Nations’ SDGs. It focuses on economic development, human well-being and sustainable pathways, with special attention to financial and knowledge resources, as well as measurement concepts. In doing so, the book draws a distinction between sustainability and sustainable pathways by refraining from dealing with broader and more direct environmental sustainability issues like climate change, environmental degradation and sustainable energy. The choice of topics, apart from their relevance for India, was guided by their importance in connection with multiple SDG goals. In addition to revealing the intricacies of systemic relationships and the dilemmas they create in policy choices, the book examines the role of actors and the critical importance of partnerships to help readers comprehend the breadth of diversities and inter-linkages involved. The roles of the central and state governments, the parliament and the state assemblies, the civil society, UN agencies and district-level authorities are separately explored in depth. Sharing valuable insights, the book encourages policymakers, practitioners and scholars to move towards a sustainable and equitable economy, and supports them in their efforts.




Dryland Ecohydrology


Book Description

By combining the analysis of biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems, this book synthesizes material on arid and semiarid landscapes, which was previously scattered among various books and journal articles. It focuses on water-limited ecosystems, which are highly sensitive to fluctuations in hydrologic conditions and, in turn, play an important role in affecting the regional water cycle. Intended as a tool for scientists working in the area of the earth and environmental sciences, this book presents the basic principles of eco-hydrology as well as a broad spectrum of topics and advances in this research field. Written by authors with diverse areas of expertise who work in arid areas around the world, the contributions describe the various interactions between the biological and physical dynamics in dryland ecosystems, ranging from basic processes in the soil-vegetation-climate system, to landscape-scale hydrologic and geomorphic processes, ecohydrologic controls on soil nutrient dynamics, and multiscale analyses of disturbances and patterns




Guidance on realizing real water savings with crop water productivity interventions


Book Description

This technical document contains clear and practical guidelines on how to implement real water savings in agriculture through interventions for enhancing crop water productivity. A distinction is made between real water savings and “apparent” water savings. Apparent water savings record reductions in water withdrawals but do not account for changes in water consumption. Real water savings record reductions in water consumption and non-recoverable return flows (runoff or percolation). This guidance document emphasizes the paradox of water savings at field and basin scales, which usually do not translate into increased water availability for other users, as is commonly believed.